Here is the problem with allowing others to "choose" what they want to pay for taxes.....historically, those who really should pay the most......try their hardest to get out of paying them at all. The "haves" going along way in finding loopholes while the have nots end up paying a consderable amount of their income to taxes.....for lack of loopholes.........Just make sure everyone pays their fair share is all. As I said, we, as christians, can use the model of the first church. Those who had a lot gave a lot, those who had a llittle gave a little, but ALL got what they needed. I am not sure why we are willing to buy into big business' hype that it is bad to charge them their fair share of taxes on the money the make in profits from the American people.
I also like to add my thanks to George for the Chist like manner in which he presents his posts. Iam a firm believer that we can disagree without being disagreeable. I am sorry that I am late to the last few days of this discussion.
My thoughts of racism and prejudice.........first some defintitions........we can all be prejudice, and only those in authority can practice racism. Example: I can hate another Child of God all I want because of the ethnicity, however, for me to exert racism requires that is be in authority of them and deny them any portion of their rights simply on the basis of that ethnicity. Now this leads to my next comment......
Which is equality. Yes, Tinka, there are programs and laws in place that help those who were initial denied the right to housing, employment, etc. Now we would like to think that they are no longer needed, but truth is, they are. the firestorm around the fact, from some, that Obama is even President in the first place is an indication that we have not yet arrived. The US spent the better portion of it's history not only denying the rights of women and ethnic groups, but treating them as property and/or less than human. We cannot then just stop, or seem to stop and expect them to acheive the same as those who were......favored........the entire time. They start out behind, because of the US racist actions, that needs to be corrected. Not a hand out, but something that does level the playing field. Most people I know, don't mind working for their living, but we also want to be assured that we will get fair housing, educational and employment opportunities. We are not quite there yet. It's getting better, but we are not there yet. I don't know what it was take for the SDA church to abolish instituationalize segregation...only God knows......maybe they never will.
Now, to be completely honest, I have experience precious little direct racial discrimination in my life. I was raised upper middle class family, and in my high school years lived in a suburban home down the street from former Raider's coach and NFL commentator John Madden, and form NFL player Gene Upshaw. I have never lived in "the inner city", well I live closest to it now, but I was not raised there. I live in California, which is under the Pacific Union of SDAs and we don't have regional conference. However, I am not blind. I could be like some who assume that becuase it doesn't happen to them, it is not happening. Or I could be someone along the lines of the natives who helped the slavers, and the slaves who betrayed other slaves to the masters, OR like some African Americans today who are just decidely blind, but I am not. There is racial discrimination here in America, and it was not so long ago that it was every bit as bad as that in Rowanda. Remember, the hangings, beatings, bombings known and still unkown. Have you forgtten about 4 little girls who died worshiping in a House of God? The man, who's name escapes me at ths moment, who wa not only beaten but drug behind a pickup truck until he was unrecognizable? We are not that far from that. Barak Obama was the first president candidate to get secret service ageents due to death threats.....just for running..........in 2007.......we are not that far from Rowanda. Our GC President calls institutionalized racism, better known as Regional Conferences, cultural diversity............we are not that far from Rowanda......at all. If some, even some posting on this site, would have their way, we would be Rowanda.
Oh and about healthcare...once again, we are already covering these same people state by state, only when they get critical. If this doesn't pass, then your state taxes will continue to pay for the uninsured. What's the issue? That you would rather the money come from your state taxes then your federal? That is the only real choice here. Nobody is unfamiliar with anything at this point, this is not a new fight, just one that keeps getting put aside. It is just a simple case of the insurance companies having amonopoly ALL of this time and liking it. It doesn't take make for them to convince some Americans that busting up their monpoly is a bad thing...after all, remember, we have that entire group who are dedicated to survival of the fittest...I got mine,you get yours. The real possiblity of another option,makes them have to do something different other than that which they are doing now. They don't want to change. Death panels? They make decisions each and every minute of the day to deny crucial treatment to their paying members.
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Topic: Michelle Obama in Discussion of Interest (Read 86338 times)
